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Form of Madagascar lace

Henkel's lace plant

Aponogeton madagascariensis var. henkelianus

The named form of Aponogeton madagascariensis · See the species →

Also known as Aponogeton henkelianus, Thin leaf Madagascar lace

FreshwaterBulb / tuberBulb offsetsRhizome divisionSeeds

Henkel's lace plant (Aponogeton madagascariensis var. henkelianus)
Laila_ · CC0

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
64–75°F
18–24°C
Max height
23.6 in
60 cm
Growth rate
Medium
Placement
Background
Type
Bulb / tuber
pH
5.5–7.0
Hardness
2–8 dGH
Spread
15.7 in (40 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed
Difficulty
Difficult
Family
Aponogetonaceae
Origin
Madagascar

Overview

Henkel's lace plant is a demanding background plant for patient keepers with cooler tanks. It is not a beginner plant.

Did you know

The leaves of Henkel's lace plant are basically a living net. There is no leaf tissue between the veins, just an open lace framework. It is one of the very few plants people grow purely for its skeleton.

Caring for Henkel's lace plant

Bury only the lower half of the bulb so the crown does not rot. Feed Henkel's lace plant well through both its roots and the water column, with root tabs and a liquid fertilizer.

Keep it cool, at 64 to 75°F (18 to 24°C). Water from the high 70s up causes rapid leaf melt and can kill the bulb. Give it soft, acidic, clean water with good flow, around pH 5.5 to 7.

Moderate light is enough, since strong light lets algae colonize the open leaf lattice and rot the leaf. It grows without injected CO2, though CO2 speeds it up.

It grows at a moderate pace and, unlike most Aponogeton, does not need a hard dormancy. Propagate it from bulb offsets, by dividing the rhizome, or from seed.

Good to know

Baum described Henkel's lace plant as its own species, Aponogeton henkelianus, in 1906. Van Bruggen made it a variety of Aponogeton madagascariensis in 1998, and current checklists fold it into that species. Its fenestrated, window-like leaves are an unusual growth pattern shared by only a handful of plants. Its storage organ behaves more like a rhizome than a true resting bulb.

In the wild

Henkel's lace plant is endemic to Madagascar. It grows submersed in cool, shaded, fast-flowing streams and rivers. The henkelianus variety is prized for its more irregular, heavily latticed leaves with strong transversal veins.

Common questions

Is Henkel's lace plant a different species from Madagascar lace?

No. Henkel's lace plant is a form of Madagascar lace, Aponogeton madagascariensis, and it is grown the same way as the species.

Does Henkel's lace plant need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes, but only partly. Push the roots into the substrate and leave at least the top half of the bulb uncovered so it doesn't rot.

Does Henkel's lace plant need CO2?

No, but it helps. Henkel's lace plant can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Henkel's lace plant need?

Henkel's lace plant wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Henkel's lace plant need root tabs?

They help. Henkel's lace plant takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.

How do you propagate Henkel's lace plant?

Henkel's lace plant propagates by bulb offsets and rhizome division. The bulb forms offsets, which can be separated and planted on their own. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece.

How tall does Henkel's lace plant grow?

Henkel's lace plant grows to about 23.6 in (60 cm) tall. It grows at a moderate pace.

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